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2022

Pride day: origin and meaning

30/6/2020

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On Sunday, collectives in various cities staged demonstrations on the occasion of the LGTBIQ + Pride on the day commemorating the revolt that on June 28, 1969 led to the LGTBIQ + mobilizations.

In some countries, the original Pride celebration date usually shifts to the first Saturday before or after June 28, although it can also be modified if it coincides with other relevant events (political elections, mass celebrations) or to commemorate other local ephemeris of transcendent events for the collective.

It is celebrated on that day to remember the Stonewall riots, a pub in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York in 1969. Those events marked the beginning of the homosexual liberation movement. The riots led to spontaneous and violent demonstrations in protest against the police raid on the early morning of that day at the 'Stonewall Inn' pub. It was the first time that the LGBT community fought against a system that persecuted homosexuals with the approval of political power.

A year later, on June 28, 1970, the first gay pride marches took place in New York City and Los Angeles, commemorating the first anniversary of the riots. Over time, other cities organized similar marches. Today pride manifestations are held around the world annually towards the end of June, to remember the Stonewall riots.

The basic notion of "LGBT pride" is that no person should be ashamed of what they are, regardless of their biological sex, sexual-affective orientation, sexual identity, or gender role. It arises as a political response to different mechanisms that the traditionalist system uses against those who "deviate" from heteronormativity: shame, exclusion and physical attacks that can lead to the death of the victim.

From a linguistic point of view, the term "pride" designates' the self-love or esteem that each person has of himself as worthy of respect or consideration. This definition conveys the idea of an intrinsic dignity that every human being possesses and that it should not be affected by their behavior or their sexual orientation.


By Fernando Iturria
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International Day of Solidarity with the People in Struggle of South Africa

16/6/2020

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I would like you think about a famous historical figure. Which public figure from the past would you like to have met? In my case, Nelson Mandela. And you can wonder why. He is not a youtuber, he didn’t appear in television or he has never spoken about his private life. That is, he is not the prototype of actual famous that young people would like to meet or having a beer but for me is one of the most important humans in XXI century.
First, you must know about his childhood and how he become an influence people around the world to change our perspective. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a lawyer and activist against apartheid, politician and philanthropist. He born in South Africa in 1918 in a little village. His parents were Christians and they decided to send Mandela to a Methodist school when he was seven years. With the aim to become a private adviser for tembu royal house, Mandela started his high education in Clarkebury Boarding High School with occidental education. Was in this place when Mandela was creating his behaviour that it would changed radically the society in South Africa. In Fort Hare University he studied English, Anthropology, Politics, Native Peoples Administration and Romano-Dutch Law legislation with the intention of becoming an interpreter or employee of the Department of Indigenous Affairs.

Change of mentality

But not all was a bed of roses to become the great Nelson Mandela that joined both South Africas. He and Justice, his girlfriend, run away to avoid got married and he worked as a watchman but he was found out and his boss fired him for being a fugitive. However, they moved to Johannesburg and Mandelas’s cousin presented him for an important lawyer company called Witkin, Sidelsky y Eidelman where he met Gaur Rebed that he introduce Mandela in Communist South African Party and he was impressed for the amazing work made by south Africans with European origin, bantu aftricans, hindus and coluoreds.
Nevertheless, he never was part of the party due to the clash between religious ideas and because Mandela thought that the real problem was racism and not class struggle.
 
The beginnings of the movement
 

In 1950 Mandela was named of CNA and at the same time Mandela and other minority groups summoned a strike to defend freedom expression and to claim against apartheid. These disturbs was made without violence, inspired in Mahatma Gandhi. They didn’t want to fight only show throw a pacific strike their opinion. All of this politic movements were the cause of his arrest. In 1952, Mandela was arrested under Suppression of Communism Law together with 21 comrades. All were found guilty, but the nine-month sentence of forced labor was suspended for two years.
 
The jail

On 5 August 1962, police captured Mandela along with fellow activist Cecil Williams near Howick. Mandela and the other five accused admitted sabotage but denied that they had ever agreed to initiate guerrilla war against the government
In 1964, Mandela and his co-accused were transferred from Pretoria to the prison on Robben Island, remaining there for the next 18 years. Isolated from non-political prisoners in Section B. Rivonia Trial prisoners spent their days breaking rocks into gravel, until being reassigned in January 1965 to work in a lime quarry. The political prisoners took part in work and huger strikes, the latter considered largely ineffective by Mandela, to improve prison conditions, viewing this as a microcosm of the anti-apartheid struggle. From 1967 onwards, prison conditions improved; black prisoners were given trousers rather than shorts, games were permitted, and the standard of their food was raised. In 1969, an escape plan for Mandela was developed by Gordon Bruce, but it was abandoned.
 
In April 1982, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prision in Tokai, Cape Town and Mandela was moved to Victor Verster Prision near Paarl. It was the last jail where Mandela was.
 
End of Apartheid

Mandela proceeded on an African tour, meeting supporters and politicians in Africa and Europe. Encouraging foreign countries to support sanctions against the apartheid government. He met President George H.W Bush, addressed both Houses of Congress and visited eight cities, being particularly popular among the African-American community. The Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) began in December 1991 at the Johannesburg World Trade Centre, attended by 228 delegates from 19 political parties. With the election set for 27 April 1994, the ANC began campaigning, opening 100 election offices and orchestrating People's Forums across the country at which Mandela could appear, as a popular figure with great status among black South Africans.
He won the elections and his inauguration took place in Pretoria on 10 May 1994, televised to a billion viewers globally. In December 1994, Mandela published Long Walk to Freedom, an autobiography based around a manuscript he had written in prison, augmented by interviews conducted with American journalist Richard Stengel.

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IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BLACK LIVES MATTER TOO

12/6/2020

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​Racism is at the base of migration policies through which the EU systematically avoids sea rescue of human beings trying to reach Europe through Italy, Malta, Spain or Greece, leaving countless people to drown or be returned to civil war, arbitrary detention and torture.

The Mediterranean is one of the deadliest routes taken by asylum seekers today, and one of the places where violations of rights at sea are more evident than ever. In 2019 more than seven hundred people lost their lives at sea, while some fifteen thousand arrived in Europe
Europe fears migration and considers it - without any evidence and without taking into account the use of cheap labor - a true "threat" to the continent, producing a real compulsion to protect borders. Instead of supporting a humanitarian response to the crisis, the Union approved last December a budget of 10 billion euros for the Frontex agency. The same agency that watches the boats in the Mediterranean with sophisticated aircraft, without any rescue capacity - or intention.

The European obsession and ineptitude with its border is not only pushing members of the Union to find illegal and unofficial solutions, such as the Maltese trawler flotilla, but it is also costing the EU a fortune, which could be used rather to receive with dignity to people fleeing from wars, misery and persecution.

The authorities present themselves as persistent defenders of universal and fundamental human rights, but they authorize practices of true institutional racism against human beings on the other side of their borders, turned into deadly ditches.


By Fernando Iturria
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the black panther party

8/6/2020

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The black Panther Party was a black socialist and revolutionary organisation that was active in USA between 1966 and 1982. Also it had a section in Algeria between 1969 and 1972.

In the beginning, in October of 1966, its principal activity was doing civil patrols with weapons to oversee police behaviour and to controlee the police brutality against Afro-Americans in Oakland, California. In this moment J.Edgar Hoover was managing FBI and he declared against panther’s party that they were a big security trouble for the country”. He oversaw a security program called COINTELPRO, through tactics, sometimes illegals, of surveillancing, infiltration and police harassment. Also we should know that allegedly, the FBI killed party’s members as Fred Hapton, the leader in Chicago.

The government persecution caused a party quickly increase because of arresting and killing of their members. Black community and democratic parties started to give support it because they saw Black Panther Party like a strong party what would defend the opposite of racial segregation and military service. However, between 1972 and 1980 the support began to decrease. This happened for decrease of support citizen, reports about drug traffic and extortion.   
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Many relevant people have affirmed that the party was the most influent back organisation to became equal rights between blacks and whites during 60’s and other people describe the party like “criminal party”. What is right? We don’t know but each one has to think, read and watch to form his or her own idea. But we are seeing in USA protests that it wants to give international view about the racial troubles. 

Adrian sanchez 

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Donation save lives

5/6/2020

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Since thousands of years, humans have desired to improve their health or their physic aspect. Old civilizations as persians, greeks or egyptians show in their art different manifestations of an idealized view of human body, using parts of animals. It meant that humans had god properties. So, the “xenotransplantation” it’s found inside of human mind since centuries ago.
This primitive concept of transplantation appears in many ancient cultures through kings, gods or heroes forms this one aim, to stick out the virtues of these beings. Probably the oldest and most famous example was Ganesha, Hindu god of wisdom.
Over the years, Christian thought picks up the myths and transform it on miracles. During the Middle Age scientific began to investigate and in 1597 Gaspar de Tagliacocci publishes a surgical treaty about nasal transplant technique. The big step forward was during the first fifteen years of XX century when Carrer discovered vascular sature. Since then scientific have discovered the way to transplant kidneys, thyroid, parathyroid, hearts and more to this day.
But to understand the importance of this part of the medicine we have to know personal stories that it explains us why we should do donations and what mean for people that need a heart, leg or anything to carry on her or his live or simply can live.
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Caitlin and her new liver
Since the moment that Caitlin born, her parents knew that something was wrong. Caitlin born with heavy problems in her liver. was subjected to many surgeries and she was close to die. But we shouldn’t lose hope and Caitlin decided to add her name to waiting list and two days after her parents received a call. Unfortunately, his angel died a couple of days ago but he would save Caitlin.
Caitlin’s family keep a photography of Jeff in Caitlin’s room with a candle next to window.
 
Ernest saved five lives with 61 years
He always wanted to be organ donor and He has decided to do it. When Ernest died suddenly with 61 years, his family knew what have to do. It was a difficult moment, Bernice said, “but I'm very proud of him for making this decision. With his donation, he could save five lives. He did something wonderful”.
 
A tragedy that It can be a benediction for many people
Tribhawan and Jasmin's son was an accident and unfortunately he suffered fatal injuries in his head. The nurse, who took care of Anand during his hospital stay, encouraged them to be organ donor and it happened. They accepted to donate the heart, both kidneys, liver and pancreas. They take advantage of each moment to report people about the benefits of being donor and how they can save lives when the death knocks on our door.
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The influence of music

3/6/2020

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​The sound and music always have been joined to humans and obviously with emotions. Thousand years ago the first humans used sounds and music like a survival and communication tool.
In “The Origin of Species”, Darwin suggest that “music sounds have established one of the most important bases to languages’s develop”. One of the reason that confirm the presence of music in our lives it’s that music help us to relaxing, feelings, release tension and memories.
During our youth and old age music marks our life. We can see its influence on babies when they sleep better by listening to their mother or children when they jump, dance and move while listening to rhythmic music.
Music give us good feelings and sweeten our lives. Try to listen to soundtrack of your favourite film, a good guitar solo, a wonderful voice. Surely music is able to awake our deepest feelings.
There had had multiples scientific studies that have showed music’s effects in humans, also animals and plants. And it has found a lot of new things like we are going to talk next paragraph.


Several studies did in the past have found that music affects the brain´s chemical because nice music does that we released dopamine, a neurohormone that it is released in the hypothalamus and related with pleasure. However, it has other benefits during learning process, behavior, physical activity, sleep, attention or humor.
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When you listen to music
Your brain is active in different areas. A study did by Florida’s University suggest that music actives more parts than anything human stimuli. Over time, listening to music can improve learning new lenguages, creativity and happiness. In addition, music has corrective effects to calm anxiety, speed healing, increase optimism, and ease pain.

Adrian sanchez

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TELEworking in the Corona era

2/6/2020

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​Crises, wars, disasters and epidemics have been accelerators of changes in human activities such as work. In many countries, employees use virtual platforms to hold meetings, carry out trainings, inform and follow the progress of tasks with their colleagues and bosses. The telework solutions that are being taken in the face of this health crisis can create a window of opportunity for its adoption in a more generalized way. However, it is not possible for all companies and all employees to work this way. The situation in education is also changing in this regard, but it is not always accessible to everyone.

Here, in the organization of Praxis, we have also had to reinvent ourselves and work from home. We stopped doing many other activities in the office and with refugees but we were able to continue working online. We continue promoting the Unesco's international days, writing articles, sharing music, recording podcasts, videos and the Spanish lessons with some Greek students, classes and activitites that are very succesfull. At the beginning it was different and complicated because we had to mentalise to work in a different way. To change the way to do the things. In my case, it was hard because I´m used and I like to work close to the people. Now we have to try to feel close in the virtual life.

Challenges involve adjustments during the transition stage that can cause major communication, trust, and results problems. The new generations of employees (digital natives) have extensive digital skills, as they tend to learn and adopt new technologies without too much effort. If the traditional leader wants to evolve into a remote leader, he will have to reconvert in many aspects, at least with respect to the new digital media and channels of interaction.

COVID-19 will pass in a while, but the experience generated with virtual team telework, organized with good management and collaboration practices, with the incorporation of 5G which is under debate yet, will mark a new era in labor relations and tasks for companies to join this evolution.


By Fernando Iturria
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